79 kg finalist Vincenzo Joseph (photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com)Action concluded on day one of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament from Coralville, Iowa. During the first session, the men's freestyle tournament showed signs of chaos, with Evan Henderson knocking off top-seeded Kendric Maple. There was much more than that in the semifinals this evening. These were all weights with a returning world medalist awaiting in Final X.
The evening with upset started off with NC State's Jakob Camacho getting some semblance of payback against Matthew Ramos for a loss in the US Open finals at 57 kg. Camacho will square off with Cornell All-American and Olympic Trials runner-up Vito Arujau.
It'll be a five versus six matchup at 61 kg as both underdogs prevailed. Seth Gross locked up a cradle and pinned US Open champion Nico Megaludis. Earlier in the day, Gross and high school senior, Jesse Mendez, engaged in the match of the tournament, a 13-12 barnburner. Megaludis' US Open finals opponent Josh Rodriguez did not advance either. He was stunned by Daniel DeShazer, early and often, in a 10-0 tech.
After top-seeded Jason Nolf took care of business at 74 kg, Joey Lavallee shocked Tommy Gantt with a winning takedown in the final second of their bout.
79 kg featured a minor upset as Chance Marsteller used a late takedown to ice the match against David McFadden, who seemed to be ready to rally, like his run through the US Open. The other half of the bracket saw Vincenzo Joseph beat the buzzer and shock Alex Dieringer, 3-2.
It'll be a rivalry renewed at 86 kg as longtime rivals Mark Hall and Zahid Valencia do battle tomorrow at 86 kg. The pair met in two NCAA finals, both of which were won by Valencia. The former ASU Sun Devil picked apart Trent Hidlay 9-4 for his place in the final. Hall stuck 2019 national champion Drew Foster with a cement mixer to hold up his end of the bargain.
In the last two weights, the only upset came from Isaac Trumble who flipped a result from the US Open finals when he dominated Cam Caffey, 11-0. He'll face Nate Jackson for the opportunity to wrestle in Final X.
At 97 kg, the top seeds both advanced as Mike Macchiavello and Kollin Moore are on a collision course.
The opposite was the case in the women's semifinals. In four of the six weights contested, the number one and number two seeds held up and will meet tomorrow.
The most notable upset(s) came at 68 kg as the sixth seed, Solin Piearcy, advanced to the finals. In her first bout, she downed #3, Alara Boyd, on criteria. The semifinals saw Piearcy control the home crowd-favorite, Rachel Watters, 6-2.
Lauren Mason at 55 kg was the only other non-one or two seed to make the finals. She got by #2 Marissa Gallegos 6-3 for the chance to take on 2019 world champion, Jacarra Winchester.
Before these wrestlers meet in the best-of-three finals, the semifinals will be contested at the remaining weight classes with the winners advancing to Final X.
Men's Freestyle Semifinals
57 kg - Jakob Camacho over Matthew Ramos 11-7
57 kg - Vito Arujau over Zane Richards 7-0
61 kg - Seth Gross fall Nico Megaludis 4:00
61 kg - Daniel DeShazer over Josh Rodriguez 10-0
74 kg - Jason Nolf fall David Carr 2:30
74 kg - Joey Lavallee over Tommy Gantt 5-4
79 kg - Chance Marsteller over David McFadden 5-2
79 kg - Vincenzo Joseph over Alex Dieringer 3-2
86 kg - Mark Hall fall Drew Foster 1:12
86 kg - Zahid Valencia over Trent Hidlay 9-4
92 kg - Isaac Trumble over Cam Caffey 11-0
92 kg - Nate Jackson over Jay Aiello 11-0
97 kg - Mike Macchiavello over Ethan Laird 8-2
97 kg - Kollin Moore over TJ Dudley 7-4
Women's Freestyle Semifinals
50 kg - Erin Golston over Emily Shilson 4-3
50 kg - Alyssa Lampe over Sage Mortimer 10-0
55 kg - Jacarra Winchester over Alisha Howk 11-0
55 kg - Lauren Mason over Marissa Gallegos 6-3
57 kg - Cameron Guerin over Ngao Shoua Whitethorn 10-0
57 kg - Alex Hedrick over Amanda Martinez 6-4
62 kg - Jennifer Rogers over Emmily Patneaud 10-0
62 kg - Macey Kilty over Andrea Schlabach 12-2
65 kg - Emma Bruntil over Ashlynn Ortega 10-0
65 kg - Mallory Velte over Maya Letona 10-0
68 kg - Sienna Ramirez over Ana Luciano 11-4
68 kg - Solin Piearcy over Rachel Watters 6-2
Greco Roman Semifinal
97 kg - Haydn Maley over Nicholas Boykin 11-7
97 kg - Braxton Amos over Lucas Sheridan 7-4
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